Structural improvement



Sept. 10, 1968 G. W. SETZER 30 34 :lli-:1

74 K 32 Z4 Z 70 Z' INVENTOR Y??? @my maken l i Y* .f 25.2.

Sept l0, 1968 G. w. sl-:TzER $400,509

STRUCTURAL MPROVEMENT Filed Nov. l5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,400,509 STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT Glenn W. Setzer, 915 Tulip St., Johnson City, Tenn. 37603 Filed Nov. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 594,483 Claims. (Cl. 52-694) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The -purpose of the invention is to rigidity a beam or truss when under load. The diagonal portions of the structural member are provided with laterally extending kicker members lixed thereto which slidably engage other diagonal portions so that the diagonal portions as well as the longitudinal members are stressed partly in compression and partly in tension whereby the components contain both normal stresses and counter stresses.

The present invention relates to a new and novel structural improvement, and more particularly to an improvement in a structural member such as a beam or truss and the like.

In the usual structural members such asbeams and trusses, when under a normal load, the top chord is generally in compression and the bottom chord in tension. Stresses in the intermediate members of the structural member may be compression in some members and tension in other members, these stresses -being reversed under an uplift load.

Stresses are concentrated at points of bend and cause local failure of the structural member long before the structural member would otherwise fail. It is accordingly a principal purpose of the present invention to rigidity the structural member and to tend to hold it straight so that it will not bend as much as conventional structural members so that the structural member of the present invention exhibits improved characteristics when under load as compared with -prior art structures.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the construction of the diagonal portions of a beam or truss which are lixed between a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal members. The finished or operative structural member will of course include both the upper and lower longitudinal members as well as the associated diagonal portions operatively secured thereto. The improvement of the present invention may be made with or without the upper and lower longitudinal members. If made with the upper and lower longitudinal members attached to the diagonal portions, a completed srtuctural member is provided. On the other hand, the diagonal portions themselves with the improved construction of the present invention may be made and then added to a structural member which includes upper and lower longitudinal members, the diagonal portions being rigidly secured to these longitudinal -members in such a case.

Each of the diagonal portions of the present invention is provided with a laterally extending kicker member which is slidably engaged with another diagonal portion, the interrelationship being such as explained hereinafter that stresses from the upper longitudinal member will be introduced into the lower longitudinal member and vice versa so that these stresses will counter each other and tend to hold the member straight thereby reducing the tendency to bend under loads. The structural member will thereby be enabled to carry a great deal more of a load since local failure at points of bend will be reduced. An outstanding difference between the structural member of the present invention and that of the -prior art is that lthe diagonal portions are stressed partly in compression and partly in tension as are both the upper and lower 3,400,509 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 ice longitudinal members of the structural member so that the components contain normal stresses as well as counter stresses.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel structural improvement wherein a load on a structural member will induce both normal and counter stresses tending to hold the member straight and to rigidity the member.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a Structural improvement which can be added to a structural member already in use and having upper and lower longitudinal members.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structural improvement which is `quite simple and i-nexpensive in construction, and yet which at the same time is quite efficient and reliable in use.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a structural member according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. l looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with certain portions broken away for the sake of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional lview taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive. As seen in these figures, the upper longitudinal member actually comprises two spaced `angle members 10 and 12. Angle member 10 includes a horizontal leg 14 and a vertical leg 16, while angle member 12 comprises a horizontal leg 18 and a vertical leg 20. Each of these angle members may be formed Of a suitable rigid material such as steel or the like. In certain instances, the upper and lower longitudinal members may be formed of other materials such as wood or the like, and may be of different configurations other than an angle shape if so desired.

The lower longitudinal member of this form of the invention includes a pair of angle members 24 and 26. Angle member 24 includes a horizontal leg 28 and a vertical leg 30, While angle member 26 includes a horizontal leg 32 and a vertical leg 34.

First diagonal means comprises a pair of members 40 and 42, member 42 being directly behind member 40 as seen in FIG. 1. These two members 40 and 42 are illustrated as being continuous and may extend substantially throughout the length off the over-all structural member. However, it should be noted that each of these members 40 and 42 need not necessarily be continuous but may comprise a plurality of substantially right angular V-shaped members secured aidjacent one another to the upper and lower longitudinal members ffor Vdefining substantially the same conguration as illustrated in FIG. l. Each of members 40 and 42 is an angle member, member 40 including a horizontal leg 40 and a vertical leg 40", and member 42 including a horizontal leg 42 and a vertical leg 42".

As seen most clearly in FIG. 1, member 40 defines a rst plurality of diagonal portions 44, 46, 48 and 50. These diagonal portions are interconnected with one another due to the lfact that they are actually part of one integral member, the various diagonal portions dening a corner therebetween. In other words a corner 52 is formed between diagonal portions 44 and 46, a corner 54 is defined between diagonal portions 46 and 48, and a corner 56 is defined between diagonal portions 48 and 50. It is olf course recognized that member 42 defines substantially the same relationship as discussed in connection with member 40.

Each of the corner portions is rigidly secured as by welding or the like to one of the longitudinal members. Corner is secured by welding as indicated by reference numeral 60 to the outwardly facing surface of vertical leg 16 of upper member 10, and corner 56 is similarly welded to this surface as indicated by reference numeral 64. In a similar manner, the corner 54 is welded to the outwardly facing surface of the vertical leg 30 of lower longitudinal member 24 as indicated by reference numeral 62.

It should be understood that the corresponding corner portions of member 42 are similarly secured as by welding to the outwardly facing surface of the vertical legs 20 and 34 of members 12 and 26 respectively. In this manner, each of the corner portions of the diagonal means 40 and 42 are welded to the upper and lower longitudinal members, successive corners along each of continuous members 40 and 42 being successively secured to the upper longitudinal member and the lower longitudinal member throughout the length of the diagonal means. Each of diagonal means 40 and 42 may also be formed of a suitable material such as steel or the like, although it is noted that it may be formed of other rigid material and of any configuration other than that of an angle member if so desired.

A further diagonal means is indicated generally by reference numeral 70, and as seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, member 70 is -formed of channel-shaped configuration to define a main wall portion '72 and a pair orf normally extending flange portions 74 and 76 formed along opposite edge portions thereof. Diagonal means 7 0 is of such a dimension as to slidably fit between the diagonal means 40 and 42 as seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, this diagonal means defining a plurality of diagonal portions 80, 82, -84 and 86 as seen in FIG. 1. It will be noted that these second plurality of diagonal portions are disposed adjacent the first diagonal portions, and each of these second diagonal portions extends in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to an adjacent one of said first diagonal portions. It will of course be apparent that each of the diagonal portions of the second diagonal means is each interconnected with an adjacent diagonal portion of the second ldiagonal means and these diagonal portions extend substantially perpendicular to one another so as to ldefine corner portions therebetween. These corner portions are indicated by reference numerals 90, 92 and 94 as seen in FIG. l. Corner portions 90 and 94 are secured as by welding to the inwardly facing surface of vertical leg 30 of member 24, while corner 92 is secured as by wel-ding to the inwardly facing surface of the vertical leg 16 of member 10 at one side of the structural member. At the other side of the structural member, the opposite side of corner portions and 94 are fixed as by welding to the inwardly [facing surface of the vertically extending leg 34 of member 26, while the opposite side of corner 92 is secured as by welding to the inwardly facing surface of vertical leg 20 of member 12. In this manner, the corners of diagonal means 70 are successively rigidly secured to the lower and upper longitudinal members of the structural member throughout the length of the diagonal means 70.

Three kicker members 100, 102 and 104 are provided, each of these kicker members being Iformed of a relatively rigid material such as steel, wood or the like, and each kicker member being secured to one of said diagonal portions. Kicker member is secured as by welding to the leg portions 40 and 42 of the diagonal portions 46 of diagonal means 40 and 42 respectively. The weld for 4 connecting kicker member 100 with the leg portion 40 is indicated by 106 in FIG. 1.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 3, kicker member 102 has the opposite ends thereof rigidly secured as by welding indicated 108 and 108 to the upper legs 40 and 42 of the portions 48 of diagonal means 40 and 42.

In a similar manner, a kicker member 104 is secured as by welding indicated at 110 in FIG. 1 to the leg portions 40 and l42 of the diagonal means 40 and 42.

The three kicker members 100, 102 and 104 are adapted to sli-dably engage the wall portion 72 of the diagonal portions 82, 84 and 86 respectively. The engaging ends of the kicker members 100, 102 and 104 are provided with a rounded configuration indicated at 112, 114 and 116 respectively so as to provide a substantially line contact with the associated portions 82, 84 and 86.

It will be noted that each of the kicker members 100, 102 and 104 extends laterally of the associated diagonal portions and is secured to the diagonal portions at intermediate points thereof spaced from the adjacent corners. It will further be noted that each of these kicker members is mounted on a surface of the associated diagonal portion which yfaces the upper longitudinal members 10 and 12.

A kicker member is secured to the bottom edges of the portions 74 and 76 of diagonal means 70 as by welding indicated at 122 in FIG. 1, the opposite ends of kicker member 120 extending laterally of the :diagonal portion 82 so as to engage the undersunface of the vertical legs 40 and 42 of the diagonal means 40 and 42 respectively. Kicker member 120 is provided with a rounded surface 124 to provide a substantial line contact.

A similar kicker member 126 is secured to the undersurface of diagonal portion 84 as by welding indicated at 128, kicker member 126 extending on opposite sides of diagonal portion 84 so as to engage the undersurface of the portions 48 of the other diagonal means. Kicker member 126 is provided with a rounded surface 130 to provide a line contact.

A further kicker member 132 is secured as by welding indicated by reference numeral 134 to the undersurface of the diagonal potrion 86, kicker member 132 extending on opposite sides of diagonal portion 86 for engaging the undersurface of the portions 50 of the other diagonal means.

It will be apparent that in the completed structure as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the diagonal portions are each rigidly secured to the upper and lower longitudinal members, but are not directly secured to one another. On the other hand, each diagonal portion includes kicker means extending laterally therefrom and slidably engaging the diagonal portion of another diagonal means. It will also be noted that the kicker members 120, 126 and 132 are fixed to the associated diagonal portions at intermediate points thereof spaced from the corners thereof. These kicker members are also secured to surfaces of the associated diagonal portions which face the lower longitudinal members.

The mode of operation of the structural members shown in FIGS. 1-3 will be hereinafter expalined. Under a normal load bearing downwardly on the upper surface of the member, the upper longitudinal members 10 and 12 are in compression and accordingly the longitudinal dimension thereof tends to shrink. On the other hand, the lower longitudinal members 24 and 26 are in tension and the longitudinal dimension thereof tends to stretch. As the upper longitudinal members tend to shrink or diminish in longitudinal dimension, adjacent diagonal portions such as 46 and 48 will tend to move toward one another so as to close the V-shaped configuration defined by members 46 and 48. As these portions 46 and 48 are thus moved toward one another, the kicker members 100 and 102 will bear upon the diagonal portions 82 and 84 which tend to close the inner inverted V defined by diagonal portions 82 and 84 thus tending to make the lower longitudinal members connected with the corner portions 90 and 94 to also shrink. In other words, stresses are induced in the lower longitudinal members tending to shorten these lower longitudinal members in contr-ast to the normal tension stresses tending to lengthen these lower longitudinal members.

On the other hand, under uplift loads, the lower longitudinal members are in compression while the upper longitudinal members are in tension. As the lower longitudinal members tend to shrink or diminish in longitudinal dimension, the diagonal portions 82 and 84 will tend to move toward one another so as to close the inner inverted V-shape defined thereby so that the kicker members 120 and 126 will bear upon the diagonal portions 46 and 48 respectively thereby Ialso tending to cause the longitudinal dimension of the upper longitudinal member to diminish. In this manner, forces tending to diminish the longitudinal dimension in the upper longitudinal members are developed which counteract the normal tension stresses in these members under an uplift load.

It is accordingly apparent that a load on the structural member will induce 'both normal and counter stresses which tend to hold the member straight and to rigidify the member.

Referring now t-o FIGS. 4 through 6 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is illustrated which includes structure operating on the same basic principles as the previously described modification and employing a slightly different arrangement.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, the upper longitudinal member of this form of the invention includes a pair of angle members 150 and 152, angle member 150 including a horizontal leg 154 and a vertical leg 156, while member 152 includes a horizontal leg 158 and a vertical leg 160. These two angle members may be rigidly secured `as by welding along a line 162.

The lower longitudinal lmember of this form of the invention includes first and second Iangle members 164 and 166. Angle member 164 includes a horizontal leg 168 and a vertical leg 170. Member 166 includes a horizontal leg 172 and a vertical leg 174. These two angle members are rigidly :secured to one another as by welding along a line 176.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, a rst diagonal portion of this form of the invention is illustrated by reference numeral 180, this diagonal portion being defined by a channel-shaped member including a wall portion 182 having anges 184 and 186 extending substantially normally from opposite edges thereof. The opposite end portions of this channel member are rigidly secured as by Welding indicated by reference numerals 190 and 192 to the upper and lowe-r longitudinal members 150 and 164 respectively. The channel members are suitably cut off so as to have the configuration shown in FIG. 4 whereby adjacent channel members may be placed end to end and secured to the upper and lower longitudinal members to provide a substantially continuously extending diagonal means.

Additional diagonal portions 200, 204 and 206 are defined by channel members substantially identical in construction With the channel member forming diagonal portion 180, these various channel members being rigidly fixed as by welding in the operative position illustrated.

As in the previously described modification, comers are defined between adjacent diagonal portions which extend substantially perpendicular to one another. A corner 210 is defined between diagonal portions 204 and 206. A further c-orner 212 is provided between diagonal portions 180 and 204. A further corner 214 is provided between diagonal portions 180 .and 200.

A further diagonal means includes diagonal portions 220, 222, 224 `and 226, each of these diagonal portions being Idefined by a channel member substantially identical in construction with channel member 180 previously described. Each of the channel members defining diagonal portions 220, 222, 224 and 226 faces in the opposite direction from the channel members defining diagonal portions 180, 200, 204 and 206, the second described plurality of diagonal portions being disposed adjacent the first described plurality of diagonal portions and each one of the second-mentioned plurality of diagonal portions extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of an adjacent one of said first-mentioned diagonal portions.

As seen particularly in FIG. 6, a kicker member 230 is fixedly secured to diagonal portion 180. This kicker member includes a first leg 232 and a second leg 234 extending substantially perpendicular thereto. Leg 232 overlies the edges of the flanges 184 and 186 and may be rigidly secured thereto as by welding or the like. The leg 234 may be rigidly secured as by welding to the upwardly facing surface of flange portion 186 and extends laterally to the side of diagonal portion so as to slidably engage -the upwardly facing surface of the diagonal portion 222. As seen in FIG. 4, a kicker member 240 of identical configuration to the kicker member 230 is secured to diagonal portion 204 in a similar manner and extends laterally thereof for engaging the upwardly facing surface of the diagonal portion 224. It will be understood that each of the diagonal porti-ons 200 and 206 will also be provided with a kicker member, each of the kicker members being secured to the associated diagonal portion at an intermediate point thereof spaced from the associated corner thereof and extending laterally therefrom for slidably engaging the other diagonal means. It will be noted that each of these kicker members is supported on a surface of the associated diagonal portion which faces the upper longitudinal members.

Referring again to FIG. 6, a kicker member 250 is fixedly secured to diagonal portion 222. This kicker member includes -a leg 252 and a leg 254, this latter leg being welded to the undersurface of diagonal portion 222 and extending laterally thereof for slidably engaging the undersurface of diagonal portion 180.

A similar kicker member 260 is provided on the. diagonal portion 224 as seen in FIG. 4. It should be understood that each of the diagonal portions 220 and 226 are also provided with kicker members which are secured to the associated diagonal portions at an intermediate point thereof spaced from the corner thereof and extend laterally therefrom for slidably engaging the other diagonal means. It will be noted that each of the kicker members mounted `on diagonal portions 222 and 224 is supported upon surfaces of the associated diagonal portions facing the lower longitudinal members.

The operation of the modification illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 6 will be similar to that of the aforementioned embodiment since the kicker members will transfer stresses from one diagonal means to the other diagonal means so as to set up normal stresses as well as counter stresses in the same manner as previously discussed.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel structural improvement wherein the completed structural member will be of such a construction that a load thereon will induce both normal and counter stresses which tend to hold the structural member straight and rigid. It is further evident that the diagonal -means of the present invention may be added to the upper and lower longitudinal members of a structural member already in use so as to improve the operating characteristics thereof. The arrangement of the present invention is also quite simple and linexpensive in construction, yet` at the same time is quite eicient and reliable in use.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, an-d since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds `of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A structural member comprising a pair of spaced relatively rigid upper and lower longitudinal members, a first plurality of relatively rigid diagonal portions, adjacent ones of said portions being interconnected with one another and extending substantially perpendicular to one another to define a corner therebetween, said corner being rigidly secured to an adjacent longitudinal member, a second plurality lof relatively rigid diagonal portions, adjacent ones of said second plurality of diagonal portions being interconnected with one another and extending substantially perpendicular to one another to define a second corner therebetween, said second corner being rigidly secured to an adjacent rigid longitudinal member, said second plurality of diagonal portions being disposed adjacent said first plurality of diagonal portions with each of said second diagonal portions extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which an adjacent first diagonal portion extends and crossing said portion substantially medially thereof, kicker means rigidly secured on said first plurality of diagonal portions at said medial crossing slidably engaging said second diagonal portions, and kicker means rigidly secured on said second plurality of portions at said medial crossing slidably engaging said first diagonal portions so that a load placed on the structural member will produce both normal stresses and counter stresses in the structural member tending to hold these structural members straight and ri id.

g2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said kicker means comprises a relatively rigid kicker member fixedly secured to each of said diagonal portions in diametrically opposed angles at said medial crossing of said portions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said kicker members extends laterally from the associated diagonal portion.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said kicker members on said first plurality of a diagonal portions is supported on the surface of the associated diagonal portion adapted to face an upper longitudinal member, and each of said kicker members on said second plurality of diagonal portions is supported on a surface of the associated diagonal portion adapted to face a lower spaced longitudinal member.

5. Apparatus as defined -in claim 1 wherein each of said kicker members mounted on said first plurality of diagonal portions engages one of said second plurality of diagonal portions along line contact, and each of said kicker members on said second plurality of diagonal portions engages one of said first plurality of diagonal portions along line contact.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said kicker members extends laterally from the associated diagonal portion, the kicker members on said first plurality of diagonal portions being supported on a surface of the associated diagonal portions adapted to face an upper longitudinal member and engaging one of said second plurality of diagonal portions along line contact, and each of said kicker members mounted on one of said second plurality of diagonal portions being supported on a surface of the associated diagonal portion adapted to face a lower spaced longitudinal member and engaging one of said first plurality of diagonal portions along line contact.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including an upper longitudinal angle member having a vertical leg and a lower spaced substan-tially parallel longitudinal angle member, having a vertical leg, each of said longitudinal members being of relatively rigid construction, said vertical legs of said longitudinal members being rigidly secured to the adjacent corners of said first and second diagonal portions to provide a complete structural member.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said kicker means comprises a relatively rigid kicker member having a rounded engaging surface.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said kicker members extends laterally from the associated diagonal portion, the kicker member secured to each of said first plurality of diagonal portions with the rounded surface slidably engaging one of said second plurality of diagonal portions, the kicker member secured to each of said second plurality of diagonal portions with the rounded surface slidably engaging one of said first plurality of diagonal portions.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said kicker members secured to one of said first plurality of diagonal portions is supported on a surface of the associated diagonal portion facing said upper longitudinal member, and each of said kicker members supported on one of said second plurality of diagonal portions is supported upon a surface of the associated diagonal portion facing said lower longitudinal member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 327,360 9/1885 Varies 52-695 1,347,084 7/1920 Eggleston 52-633 1,381,659 6/1921 Rapp et al. 52-693 1,901,800 3/1933 Bushey 52-695 1,949,818 3/1934 Tarbox 52--694 2,392,674 1/1946 Lachman et al. 52--695 2,410,175 10/ 1946 Machamer.

2,455,217 11/1948 Borges 52-695 2,782,696 2/1957 Francis et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 16,426 1887 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primal), Examiner. 

